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Sounds Like Teen Spirit

Play trailer Poster for Sounds Like Teen Spirit 2008 1h 40m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Entrants in the 2007 Junior Eurovision Song Contest from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Georgia are followed as they compete against 16 acts to win the title.

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Sounds Like Teen Spirit

Critics Reviews

View All (24) Critics Reviews
Dan Jolin Empire Magazine A cast of cute kids and quirky teens make for an unorthodox but endearing documentary. Rated: 3/5 May 8, 2009 Full Review Dave Calhoun Time Out Johnson serves the story well and strikes a welcome tone by taking his subjects just seriously enough. Very enjoyable - but no more than an extended 'Pop Idol' for cinema. Rated: 3/6 May 8, 2009 Full Review James Christopher Times (UK) The documentary Sounds Like Teen Spirit has a thoroughly dismal premise but it is a remarkable and deeply affecting watch. Rated: 4/5 May 8, 2009 Full Review Nikki Baughan Roll Credits [A] charming, moving and ultimately heart-warming testament to the power of dreams to transform the lives of these troubled youngsters, if only for the length of the contest. Rated: 4/5 Oct 29, 2019 Full Review Cosmo Landesman Sunday Times (UK) Johnson's film is meant to be a heartwarming and funny look at young dreamers and the realities of their lives. But there's something distasteful in portraying these kids as lovable losers. Rated: 2/5 May 13, 2009 Full Review Philip French Observer (UK) This is another moderately interesting documentary following some obscure competition in which there will be grieving losers, exultant winners and little widespread acclaim. May 13, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (21) audience reviews
Audience Member OMG this was a delicious little treat. Its touching funny and well worth a watch. To see the differences between kids in each country is an eye opener - some look acceptably trashy, some old fashioned. And the songs are great. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I love this documentary Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member One lazy afternoon not wearing my glasses I rented this movie as a suggestion from iTunes. I thought it had to do with Nirvana. When I began watching it I thought I had just made a terrible mistake and I was in for some TLC type show where its about the overbearing parents living through their somewhat talented kids. Well, I was pleasantly surprised! It was a story, told by the kids themselves. Quite endearing, for once allowing kids to speak their minds in a way that to my surprise shows you the realities of children around the world, how they are different yet the same in many ways. I liked how the director allowed each kid to portray themselves in their personal ways. It had to do something about their performances, but that didn't get in the way of the stories they have to say. All three characters and the band tell their story of why they "compete" in Junior Eurovision, none of them crave fame or showbiz success, and their parents stay at a healthy distance. Wherever these kids (Marina, Yiorgos, Mariam, the Trust kids, Bab, Dalton SIsters, etc. are, I hope that their wishes came true and that they revisit this time in their lives in the movie. It was a very nice way to spend 93 minutes and 5 Dollars in my life. (Now, if only TLC and other US channels would take notice and make shows that are not about laughing about others ignorance, but about their unscripted stories... that is probably too much too ask.) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Over-generalised documentary on a fairly insignificant international event. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member A well made but ultimately hollow documentary. The movie really has no point to make and did not offer any novel insight, the only thing I was left with was the belief that the Eurovision format is too harsh for children. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member I cried many times during this documentary. I think I'm going to watch next Junior Eurovision Song Contest on telly. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Sounds Like Teen Spirit

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Entrants in the 2007 Junior Eurovision Song Contest from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Georgia are followed as they compete against 16 acts to win the title.
Director
Jamie Jay Johnson
Producer
Elizabeth Karlsen
Production Co
Number 9 Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 8, 2017
Runtime
1h 40m
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